"Of course we can't make a landing on a lee shore in this weather," answered Dory, as he went forward. Bissell could not make anything of Dory, and he looked at him only to wonder what he was going to do. The skipper had always believed that he knew all about sailing a boat; and in a moderate, or even a fresh breeze, he could do very well when everything went along smoothly. But he had never been trained, as the students at Beech Hill had, for seasons of emergency. The Silver Moon miss-stayed probably because she had not a "good full," had fallen off into the trough of the sea, and rolled herself half full of water before the skipper thought of doing anything to overcome the difficulty. Under these trying circumstances, he was not instructed either by precept or actual trial what to do. The throat halyard of the sail, Dory found when he went forward, had not been cast off. He got hold of the peak halyard and hauled on it till he got a good set on the mainsail. "What are you about?" cried Bissell. "You will upset her as sure as you live! I let that part of the sail down because it blowed so hard. I was going to lower the whole sail, but I hadn't time. I was afraid the boat would sink if I didn't bale with all my might." Dory secured the peak halyard without paying any attention to the shout of the skipper. When he had put on the half hitch, he went aft again. "Let the sail down just as quick as you can!" yelled Bissell. "I think not," replied Dory quietly. "If you don't, I shall lower it myself. I can't stand this!" added the frightened skipper. "This boat belongs to you, Mr. Bissell, and you can do what you please with her, and I shall not quarrel with you about it. If you don't want any assistance, Paul and I will return to the barge." "But I don't want anybody to sink her," protested the skipper. "I shall not sink her; but it is all nonsense to think of baling her out while she is in the trough of the sea, shipping water as fast or faster than you can throw it out. I am not willing that Paul should wear himself out for nothing." "That's the only way to keep her from sinking." "You have a perfect right to your own opinion, as I have to mine. I am confident that I can get the sloop out of this scrape, if you will allow me to do it; if not, Paul and I will return to the barges." "But I want you to help bale out the boat. She will sink if the water rises any higher in her," the skipper insisted. At that moment, a heavier wave than usual struck her, and rolled the boat over till she took in at least a barrel of water. Bissell sprang from his seat as though he expected the Silver Moon to go to the bottom at that instant. But she did not sink, though her floating power seemed to be very nearly exhausted. "Do you see that?" demanded the skipper, as though he regarded the water just shipped as a triumphant vindication of his opinion.